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Seven teams remain undefeated while four remain winless. We’ve come to the first of the bye weeks, with the Patriots and Titans both off this week.

Most Impressive Teams From Week 3

Arizona Cardinals (3-0): I still think the Patriots are the best team in football right now simply because they’re the defending champs, but it’s close. The offense is flourishing as Larry Fitzgerald continued his resurgence with another two TD night. Carson Palmer continues to not skip a beat after missing the second half/playoffs last season. But the real story was the defense this week. The secondary took advantage of every 49er mistake and helped put the game out of reach before most people were comfortable in their seats.

New England Patriots (3-0): I mean what is left to say about this team that hasn’t been said this season? Tom Brady looks about as good as he ever has, thanks in part to a number of offensive weapons flourishing in big ways. But to get the running game going in week 3 takes this team to another level. New England’s offense under Belichick and Brady has always been pass first, run later. But if LeGarrett Blount can build off his week 3 performance, it adds another level of doubt against opposing defenses, making this team even more formidable.

Seattle Seahawks (1-2): I know, I know, it was just their 1st win and I could’ve chosen any of the 5 other 3-0 teams. But coming off a Superbowl appearance, we all expected this team to start off better than 0-2. So when they bounce back and take care of business in such a dominating fashion for win number 1, I had to take notice and give credit. The return of Kam Chancellor sparked the Legion of Boom to the first shutout of the NFL season. Even more impressive than forcing the Bears to lay a goose egg, is that Chicago never even got close to field goal range. The offense wasn’t as sharp early as this team would want, but another boost on special teams from Tyler Lockett, as well as a big day on the ground for Thomas Rawls helped give them cushion in the 2nd half.

Most Disappointing Teams From Week 3

New York Jets (2-1): After having a lights out defense in their first two games, the Jets at home allowed a desperate Eagles team to run all over them… literally. Without DeMarco Murray, Ryan Matthews went off for 108 rushing yards, while Darren Sproles made the Jets special teams look silly with an 89-yard punt return TD. Ryan Fitzpatrick had an up-and-down performance, throwing for three scores, but also throwing three interceptions. And don’t get me started on the attempted lateral that became a turnover by Brandon Marshall. It was an ugly loss for a team that has the potential to make the playoffs in the AFC this season.

Detroit Lions (0-3): It’s hard enough to win in this league when you do everything well. But through three weeks, Detroit isn’t really doing anything to make them feel better about themselves going forward. Their running game managed just 28 yards while Matthew Stafford turned the ball over three times, including two in the fourth quarter to help Denver pull away. And with the Seahawks up next, things don’t get any easier from here.

San Francisco 49ers (1-2): Colin Kaepernick is a run first type QB and that’s fine, if you use that to your advantage. But when you forget that, and he throws four interceptions, including two pick sixes, that’s a problem. Kapernick was just 9-19 for 67 yards, though he did make his line a bit better with a rushing TD, San Fran’s only score of the day. Sure, they ran into a far superior Cardinals team, but this was one of the ugliest, most lopsided games you’ll see, especially between division rivals.

Most Surprising Performances from Week 3

Indianapolis Colts (1-2): The Colts got their first win of the season, but it wasn’t pretty. It took vintage Andrew Luck in the fourth quarter to overcome a 27-14 deficit to win by two. Both of his TD passes came in the final frame, after two more turnovers helped put them in the hole early. The running game showed up in the form of two rushing scores from off-season acquisition Frank Gore. Indy’s defense had its moments, but almost bent enough to allow Marcus Mariota to get his second career win. The Colts got a win, but there’s still a lot of work to be done.

St Louis Rams (1-2): Their week 1 win over the Seahawks is starting to look more like a fluke than a jumping off point. 34 points scored in their one win, 16 in their two losses. The defense did its job holding a combination of Ben Rothelisberger and Mike Vick to just 12 points, but the offense couldn’t sustain anything.

Miami Dolphins (1-2): For a team that made a conscious effort to improve their defense in the off-season, they looked awful allowing the Bills to rack up 429 yards after a down week 2. But the most concerning part of the Dolphins so far this season is the offense. Ryan Tannehill threw three interceptions and the running game hasn’t been utilized/effective enough.

Now it’s time for my picks. I rebounded from a bad week 2 to go 13-3 last week, bringing my season total to 28-20.

Thursday Night Football

Ravens @ Steelers: One team needs this more than the other. One team is in a better position to win this game than the other. And I think they’re the same team. Baltimore enters at 0-3 but they have gotten better every week. And with Pittsburgh needing to rely heavily on the running game without Ben Rothelisberger, the Ravens know who they have to stop. Of course that doesn’t mean it will work, as most have had trouble stopping Le’Veon Bell. Joe Flacco over Mike Vick will be the difference in this one. BALTIMORE WINS

Sunday 1PM Games

Jets @ Dolphins: Both teams are coming off home losses. A win keeps the Jets very much in playoff contention and with a chance to catch the Patriots. A loss means another week in the cellar for the Dolphins. Ryan Tannehill was abused by one AFC East defense last week, and coming off a bad week of their own, look for the Jets to come out firing on D. Also, I expect to see more from the run game for New York, with Chris Ivory another week removed from injury. NEW YORK WINS

Jaguars @ Colts: Both of these teams enter action at 1-2, but with very different ideas on how this season was supposed to start. Jacksonville is a young team that showed signs late last season, but we all knew they’d be a work in progress all year. As for the Colts, many, myself included, had them going far into the playoffs. Instead Andrew Luck continues to be a turnover machine, while Jacksonville continues to be very, very inconsistent. So who moves to .500 on the young season? Give me the Colts to look more like the 4th quarter of week 3 than the first 11 quarters of football. INDIANAPOLIS WINS

Giants @ Bills:New York picked up their first win of the season last week, finally putting everything together, without shooting themselves in the foot. Buffalo took out their week 2 frustrations out on the Dolphins. The Giants need to generate some pass rush against the Bills this week, but if they build off a great day in the secondary they will overcome the lack of one again. Meanwhile the Bills need to figure out how to slow down Odell Beckham Jr. The Giants might get Victor Cruz back, which would only help the offense. So can the Giants move to .500, or will Buffalo move to 3-1? While I think Eli Manning’s first interception of the season could come in this game, give me the G-Men to get their first road win of the season. NEW YORK WINS

Panthers @ Buccaneers: The Panthers have been great to start the season. Tampa has been very up and down, but their defense wasn’t the problem in week 3. I still don’t know how I feel about the Panthers long term, but I never thought they’d be in a position to open the season 4-0. I’m taking a leap here, but I think the offense for the Bucs picks up this week and they find a way to eek one out at home. TAMPA BAY WINS

Eagles @ Redskins: The Eagles woke up in week 3 while the Redskins looked outmatched. Division games are always interesting and in the NFC East, they’re usually competitive. But give me the road team to even up their recordon the stretch of their ground game. PHILADELPHIA WINS

Raiders @ Bears: Oakland has been pretty impressive through three weeks, having nearly equaled their win total from 2014. Derek Carr has shown great improvement, as has the defense. As for Chicago, tough times continue. Jay Cutler is out, and they’ve already started trading off pieces at 0-3. And I don’t see things getting better for the Bears this week. OAKLAND WINS

Texans @ Falcons: After a rough 2014, the Falcons have come out of the gate with their offense running on all cylinders. They’re 3-0, dominating the NFC East with a combination of a healthy Julio Jones, some luck and a revamped running game. Houston has struggled early, but got the defensive help they needed to get their first win a week ago. Give me the home team to continue their hot start. ATLANTA WINS

Chiefs @ Bengals: Kansas City had its worst game of the season on Monday Night, and should be 2-1, but sit at 1-2. Cincinnati has been on point in all three of their games to start the season. If both teams play up to their abilities this will come down to the wire. Even if that does happen, I still like the Bengals at home to stay undefeated.CINCINNATI WINS

Sunday 4/425 PM Games

Browns @ Chargers: On paper, San Diego is confusing, because they’re in the top 5 of total offense and top 10 in total defense, but sit at 1-2. But turnovers and a middle of the pack running game have doomed that. Cleveland has looked ok, but it baffles me the best they’ve looked was with Johnny Manziel at the helm, yet he is not starting. That being said, I like the Browns to get the road victory. CLEVELAND WINS

Packers @ Niners: This is probably the most lopsided game of the week. Aaron Rodgers can do no wrong. The Packers defense has looked championship caliber at times. And with Eddie Lacy despite injury concerns was able to play, the run game did its job in week 3. As for the 49ers, their week 1 win looks like it will be more of an anomaly than anything to build on as they turn the ball over too much and can’t stop any phase of the opponent’s game.GREEN BAY WINS

Rams @ Cardinals: I had higher hopes for the Rams defense. I questioned bringing Nick Foles over as their offensive line isn’t as strong as the Eagles was last season. And now they face the red hot Cardinals. It’s another possible trap game for Arizona, and while I don’t think they’ll dominate quite the same way they did San Fran a week ago, I don’t see this being much of a game either. ARIZONA WINS

Vikings @ Broncos:Minnesota has their star running back and just as good as ever. Teddy Bridgewater isn’t having a stellar start to his sophomore season, throwing for under 200 yards a game, with just one TD. But he is at least limiting turnovers and giving Adrian Peterson a chance. The defense has been great at limiting damage and that’s why they sit at 2-0. Denver has gotten better in every game, but still don’t look like your normal Peyton Manning led team. So what gives? I’m going to go with the road team because eventually, that mistake the Broncos have been getting away with will cost them, and this will be the week it does. MINNESOTA WINS

Sunday Night Football

Cowboys @ Saints: I almost made Dallas one of my surprising teams from week 3 as Brandon Weedon got off to a crazy good start in his first start for Dallas. But the team broke down in the second half against the Falcons and dropped their first game of the year. New Orleans continues to struggle in every phase, but they at least gave themselves a chance against Carolina a week ago. Luke McCown turned the ball over late to seal the 0-3 start, but played well before hand. Dallas showed an inability to stop the run last week, so if the Saints can get the ground game going, they can pick up their first win. And I think they do just that. NEW ORLEANS WINS

Monday Night Football

Lions @ Seahawks: If the Packers-Niners match-up is the most lopsided this week, this is probably the second. With no running game to speak of, they can’t overcome turnovers and a defense that is having trouble stopping anyone. Seattle feels good coming off a shutout and they looked good in every phase last week. Not to mention Stafford’s struggles on the road coupled with the 12th man. SEATTLE WINS

It’s pretty amazing how many teams most thought would be good this season are 0-2.

Most Impressive Teams From Week 2

New England Patriots (2-0)– The Tom Brady revenge tour raged through Buffalo this weekend and put up three touchdowns and 466 yards passing on the Buffalo defense. Rob Gronkowski went over 100 yards, Julian Edelman caught two TDs and nine different Patriots caught passes. The defense let up late, allowing 19 points in the fourth to the Bills to make the final score close, but it really wasn’t.

Arizona Cardinals (2-0) –Carson Palmer is healthy and it means this team is a force to be reckoned with in a division that has the NFC Champs bringing up the rear at 0-2. Palmer was efficient throwing 4 touchdowns on just 185 yards passing. The Cards got help from their defense, and special teams with a team record 108-yard kickoff return. Not to mention that Larry Fitzgerald had one of the best games of his career, catching 3 scores after going nine straight (including the playoffs) without a single one.

Green Bay Packers (2-0) –Make it nine straight regular season home wins for the Packers who got revenge for their NFC Championship loss to the Seahawks. Both defenses played well, but the big play came by Green Bay in the fourth, an interception of Russell Wilson as the Pack went to score 11 to take the lead and the game. The fact that Green Bay could come out on top after losing both Eddie Lacy and Devonte Adams early to injury shows how deep this team is.

Most Disappointing Teams From Week 2

New York Giants (0-2)– The New York Giants are now 0-2… against the New York Giants. They got Odell Beckham Jr and Shane Vereen going, Eli Manning hasn’t thrown a pick and the defense shutdown Matt Ryan for most of the game. But it hasn’t mattered. In both games, they played the 55 minutes of football that should have them 2-0 and atop the NFC East. Instead, they’ve shot themselves in the foot to end two games with poor time management and poor play calling.

Indianapolis Colts (0-2) –For just the second time in his young career, Andrew Luck has lost two straight games. The fourth year QB threw 3 interceptions for the first time in nearly two years, and added a fumble to his bad night. The defense hasn’t been terrible, but they haven’t been able to make up for the bad offense.

Detroit Lions (0-2) – The defense hasn’t been a strengthlike it’s been in the past.Matthew Stafford has been erratic. But the most distressing part has the running game. They managed just 38 yards on the ground against the Vikings a week after surrendering 230 yards in week 1. When Matt Stafford leads you in rushing, that’s a problem. When he has most yards than four other guys combined, that’s a serious problem.

Most Surprising Performances from Week 2

Carolina Panthers (2-0) – I honestly don’t know how they’re doing it. Sure the defense is good, but offensively they haven’t done anything spectacular. Cam Newton looks better than last season, and has gotten it done on the ground, but their actual backs haven’t done much. Their big play threat in Kelvin Benjamin is down for the season, leaving Newton under 200 yards passing. But they’re doing enough and sit tied atop the division.

Oakland Raiders (1-1) – One week after a blowout loss to Cincinnati, they went toe-to-toe offensively with the Ravens and came out on top. David Carr threw for a career high 351 yards, and put a late turnover behind him quickly to throw the game winner with 26 seconds to go. He’s got two big weapons in rookie Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree to throw to, something Oakland has been missing for years.

New York Jets (2-0) –I knew they’d be good this season. But I don’t even think they’ve played their best football and here they are at 2-0 coming off a nice win in Indianapolis. Ryan Fitzpatrick has looked great and forged a quick connection with Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall. Chris Ivory got banged up in practice but has looked good so far. And the defense after being torched at times in week 1, specifically in the secondary, generated a great pass rush in week 2, and has an incredible 10 takeaways already.

Now we can get to my picks for week 3. I went just 5-11 to bring my season total to 15-17, so clearly I need a rebound.

Thursday Night Football

Redskins @ Giants: Washington’s defense has been one of the biggest surprises this season. New York’s defense is stopping the run, but allowing QBs to have a field day. The Giants offense looked a lot better in week 2, but they beat themselves late again. I should probably stop picking New York, but they handle the Skins well and without their late-game mistakes, I still think they’ve looked like the best team in the division. NEW YORK WINS

Sunday 1PM Games

Falcons @ Cowboys: Both teams enter 2-0 but with varying levels of health concerns. Dallas has been hit at QB with Tony Romo’s fractured clavicle, wide receiver with Dez Bryant’s broken foot and Jason Witten’s knee. Atlanta will be without rookie running back Tevin Coleman who injured his rib in their week 2 win. The Cowboys traded for guys to replace their injured stars, including a pick for Matt Cassel, who is a very capable starter. But Matt Ryan has a very healthy and electric Julio Jones paired with Roddy White and I think he’ll be able to out-pass anything the Boys throw out there. ATLANTA WINS

Colts @ Titans: Tennessee went from great to average in a weeks’ time, something to expect with a rookie QB. I’ve already gone over Indy’s problems so I won’t here. But the Jets showed you can do damage to the Colts secondary, so expect Marcus Mariota to throw early and often this week. However, I don’t think it will be enough. Andrew Luck will figure out how to play past his turnovers and explode in week 3 and get win number 1. INDIANAPOLIS WINS

Raiders @ Browns: Johnny Manziel was supposed to get another start after picking up his first win a week ago. Not so fast. Josh McCowan will be back after missing week 2 with injury. I don’t like the move, but I guess Cleveland is operating under the “you don’t lose your job because of injury idea.” As for Oakland, no one thought they’d be good this year, and yet they’ve done some good things early on. So who moves to a surprising 2-1? Give me the Raiders in a close one on the road.OAKLAND WINS

Bengals @ Ravens: Andy Dalton is off to one of the best starts of his career, the run game is producing and the defense is doing what it needs to do, holding opponents to 16 points a game. Now they face a hungry 0-2 Ravens team in an AFC North showdown. Baltimore’s defense has allowed that has allowed the seventh most points per game in the first two weeks. I thought Baltimore would be in contention for a playoff spot against this season, and while I know they can win this game and avoid an 0-3 start, I like the Bengals too much right now. CINCINNATI WINS

Jaguars @ Patriots: The Jacksonville Defense has been solid through two weeks of play, but they’re going to need to get to Tom Brady early and often if they want to unseat the champs. Blake Bortles looked better in week 2 than week 1, but he’s still got a lot of work to do. New England is just on another level and at home. They’ll get to 3-0 rather easily. NEW ENGLAND WINS

Saints @ Panthers: Already at 0-2, the Saints are now without Drew Brees. Carolina is seeing a better Cam Newton through two weeks than they saw all of last season. New Orleans defense has been atrocious, the Panthers pretty good. If all holds true, we’ve got another easy win for a soon-to-be 3-0 squad. CAROLINA WINS

Eagles @ Jets: DeMarco Murray has been very, very bad. Sam Bradford has been very bad. The Eagles special teams hasn’t been what it was, nor has the defense. New York has been good in every phase of the game, but it’s been their defense that has stood out above all. NEW YORK WINS

Buccaneers @ Texans: Bryan Hoyer did a better job than Ryan Mallett, but it wasn’t enough. Houston’s running game has been non-existent without Arian Foster. The defense isn’t what they can and have been in the past. Jameis Winston bounced back from a rough NFL debut to show flashes. If the Texans get some help on the ground, I like the Texans at home to pick up their first win. HOUSTON WINS

Chargers @ Vikings: Philip Rivers has been on point this season, completing 81 percent of his passes through two games. But turnovers hurt the Chargers chances at a 2-0 start a week ago. As for the Vikings, Adrian Peterson got back to his old self, racking up nearly 200 total yards to help get his team to 1-1. MINNESOTA WINS

Steelers @ Rams: The Steelers have looked good on offense through two weeks, and that was without Le’Veon Bell. Now with the AFC’s leading rusher from a year ago back, look out. St. Louis’s defense hasn’t been as good as I thought it would be, and the offense has had one great game, and one they’d like to forget about. So give me the more experienced Pittsburgh team on the road. PITTSBURGH WINS

Sunday 4/425 PM Games

49ers @ Cardinals: After a big first week, the Niners looked overwhelmed by the Steelers in week 2, particularly on defense, which is normally a strong suit. And now they have to contend with a hot Cardinals team on the road. Arizona is clicking on all cylinders, picking up where they left off last season with Carson Palmer. They might not give up 48 again, but San Francisco is going to have a tough time stopping the Cardinals. ARIZONA WINS

Bills @ Dolphins: Both of these teams looked great in week 1, and not so great in week 2. Buffalo is waiting for LeSean McCoy to look more like the guy Philadelphia ran out of the backfield last season. The Dolphins shot themselves in the foot with 13 flags for 113 penalty yards including a personal foul that set up the Jags game winning field-goal. The inconsistent showings of the Bills defense through two weeks makes it hard to gauge them. For that I’m taking the home team to improve to 2-1. MIAMI WINS

Bears @ Seahawks: One of these teams will be 0-3 (barring a tie) when the clock hits zero. And it’s easily going to be Chicago. While the Hawks haven’t been as good as they’ve been the past two years, they have been in both games and have played well enough to win. The Bears have looked awful and are now without Jay Cutler, though many are probably okay with that. SEATTLE WINS

Sunday Night Football

Broncos @ Lions: Peyton Manning woke up in week 2 but it was the Chiefs mistakes and Broncos defense that won the game in the end. Detroit is a surprising 0-2, but Matt Stafford always plays better at home than on the road. Denver is lucky to be 2-0, and I think that luck runs out this week. Look for the run game to get going for Detroit. DETROIT WINS

Monday Night Football

Chiefs @ Packers: Kansas City made some poor choices to end week 2. But they have to be happy with what they’ve seen from their skill position guys, now they just have to hope Jamaal Charles holds onto the football. Green Bay overcame injuries to key players in week 2 to get revenge on the Seahawks, thanks in large part to their defense. Both teams have impressed, but give me another home win for Aaron Rodgers and company this week.GREEN BAY WINS

So many things went down in week 1 that I need to break it all down before I can look ahead to week 2.

Top 3 Teams From Week 1

New England Patriots (1-0) – Tom Brady to preseasons – “Who needs them?” The veteran QB looked great despite not knowing he’d play in week 1 until just days before the season began. The Superbowl champs made easy work of the Steelers behind a great performance from Rob Gronkowski, who caught three of Brady’s four passing TDs. The rush defense was one of the only concerns, allowing DeAngelo Williams to rise from the ashes in the wake of the Le’Veon Bell suspension. If week 1 is any indication of how the rest of the season will go, the rest of the East is not going to have as easy of a time as they thought overtaking the Pats as they thought before the suspension was overturned.

Buffalo Bills (1-0) – Can we talk about that defense? The Rex Ryan affect was swift and immediate. To shutdown an offensive juggernaut like Andrew Luck the way they did was impressive. And what about the showing by Tyrod Taylor?

Tennessee Titans (1-0) – Marcus Mariota (your AFC Offensive Player of the week) looked like a veteran in his first career start. He put up numbers impressive for any QB, let alone a rookie. But he didn’t do it alone. The team played well in all phases of the game.

3 Worst Teams From Week 1

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1) – Their defense was not ready for rookie QB Marcus Mariota. Jamie’s Winston was outplayed by the guy picked behind him in this years draft. A nice surprise was the 100+ yard receiving game by Austin Seferian-Jenkins on the offensive end, but little help from the run game and no help from the defense spelled disaster from the start.

2. Oakland Raiders (0-1) – There was no pressure on Andy Dalton and it allowed his receiving core to walk all over them all day. The offense wasn’t pretty, barely scrapping 50 yards rushing, while losing their starting QB to injury. You can’t go down 33-0. Ever.

3. New Orleans Saints (0-1) – After a disappointing season a year ago, I thought the Saints would come out swinging in week 1. Arizona has a formidable defense, but a Drew Brees led offense should never have to settle for four field goals. They need a whole heck of a lot more from their run game, and obviously need to convert in the green/red zone.

3 Most Disappointing Teams From Week 1

New York Giants (0-1) – They threw on 3rd and goal but kicked it on 4th and goal. I don’t get it either. IF you run on 3rd down, you run the clock down to a minute. Dallas has no time-outs left. If you go for it then on 4th and goal, and score, then dagger. If you go for it and you don’t score, they’re inside their five with what, 20 seconds? It’s a loss that will sting all season.

2. Detroit Lions (0-1) – They got off to such a great start that you thought they’d finally figured out their road struggles. Wrong. After being up 21-3 in the 2nd, they allowed Philip Rivers and company to score 30 straight points.

3. Seattle Seahawks (0-1) – I know it was a road game, and I never thought the Rams would be an easy out this season. But to give up 34 points the way they did, it was discouraging for the Legion of Boom. The offense figured it out in the fourth to force overtime, but the offensive line needs to protect Russell Wilson better.

Now that that’s done, I can look ahead to week 2 with my picks. I finished last week 10-6. I’d say that’s not bad considering there were so many strange outcomes. Here’s my outlook for week 2.

Thursday Night Football

Broncos @ Chiefs: Peyton Manning didn’t throw an opening week TD for the first time in 12 years. Alex Smith had a big week one despite no touchdowns to wide-receivers. Both teams defenses looked good in week 1. Peyton Manning’s decline has definitely begun, but I can’t see home having a second straight poor outing in a row. Give me the road win for the future hall-of-gamer. DENVER WINS

Sunday 1PM Games

Texans @ Panthers: Carolina won their first game of the season, but they didn’t do much offensively to impress me. Houston is already making a change at quarterback and didn’t do much defensively. But get JJ Watt back home and Ryan Mallet starting, I think the Panthers will be shut down enough to even up both teams records.HOUSTON WINS

Buccaneers @ Saints: Both teams enter in at 0-1. Neither team looked good on defense, both has their moments on offense. Division match-ups are never easy, but I cannot see the Saints going down 0-2 a second year in a row, so give me the home team in an easy one.NEW ORLEANS WINS

49ers @ Steelers: When I looked at the schedule before the season, I thought week 1 would be one of the few opportunities San Francisco would have at a win. I still picked Minnesota, but I was right about the Niners in that respect. The biggest mistake the Steelers made in their week one loss was not covering Gronk. Roethlisberger looked good, the running game without Le’Veon Bell looked very good. The 49ers tight-ends are nowhere close to the talent of Gronk combined, so if the Steelers play their game, they should pick up their first win of the year.PITTSBURGH WINS

Lions @ Vikings: I was excited to see the Vikings offense get to work in week 1, with Adrian Peterson returning and the addition of Mike Wallace to help out reigning ROY Teddy Bridgewater. Well, I was left underwhelmed. As for the Lions, as I said before, they were one of the more disappointing teams in week 1. I can’t see their defense being as bad as they were last week, so while Minnesota should score more than three points, I see a rare road win for Detroit this week.DETROIT WINS

Cardinals @ Bears: The Bears found a way to keep their week 1 match-up versus the Packers close despite an underwhelming performance by Jay Cutler. It was the run game that kept them in it, but now they face a defense fresh off a great performance against the Saints… on the road to boot. Carson Palmer looked great fresh off his ACL injury, and QB stability late is what doomed the Cards a season ago.ARIZONA WINS

Patriots @ Bills: The winner moves to 2-0 and takes an early AFC East lead. This game will come down to the Bills ability to stop Rob Gronkowski, who showed the Steelers defense no mercy. I loved everything Buffalo did against Indy a week ago. I thought Tom Brady looked as sharp as ever, but I think a lot of what happened on Thursday night was adrenaline. I hated their run defense against Pittsburgh, so I expect LeSean McCoy and Karlos Williams to combine for a big day. Give me the home team to hand the champs their first loss since week 17, also against the Bills. BUFFALO WINS

Chargers @ Bengals: Both teams got great offensive performances from their quarterbacks to start the season. Philip Rivers threw for over 400 yards, despite two early picks, while Andy Dalton was even cleaner with no picks and two TDs. Cincinnati also had a better showing on defense, though San Diego did recover from a rough start. I like both of these teams to have good seasons, but only one can start the season 2-0. And based on consistency and where the game is taking place, give me the Bengals in a race to 30. CINCINNATI WINS

Titans @ Browns: So the Browns lost their starter on an ill-advised scoring attempt, saw Johnny Manziel throw a bomb into the Jets secondary and lose by 21. And now they get a red-hot Titans team and their own young QB fresh off of a road win to open the season. And don’t think that win was all Mariota, Tennessee played well in all phases of the game. So give me the road team to drop the home team to 0-2.TENNESSEE WINS

Falcons @ Giants: Atlanta nearly blew a double-digit lead at home to the Eagles, while New York did drop a double-digit lead on the road to the Cowboys. Roddy White is healthy and it makes the pairing of him and Julio Jones look nearly unstoppable. The Giants played well until they decided to forget how to run out a clock properly. Their defense forced a number of errors, and actually take advantage, something they didn’t do last season. Eli Manning saw a lot of dropped passes and only got help on the ground in the fourth quarter. They did enough to win, but shot themselves in the foot, and you know they will be extra hungry for their home opener. The Falcons defense struggled late, so there are holes to expose. Give me an embarrassed Giants squad to come out strong early. NEW YORK WINS

Rams @ Redskins: The Rams are coming off an impressive OT victory over the NFC Champs. Putting up 34 on the Legion of Boom is reason enough to pick the Rams this week. Add the ever standing issues in Washington and it makes the decision easier. They say anyone can beat anyone on Any Given Sunday, but I’ll take the road team in this one. ST LOUIS WINS

Sunday 4/4:25 PM Games

Dolphins @ Jaguars: I was a bit disappointed with the Dolphins offense against the Redskins a week ago. But the defense was great and they get what should be another easy one this week. Jacksonville’s offense can be a lot better than it was against Carolina, but I don’t see it being enough this week. MIAMI WINS

Ravens @ Raiders: Baltimore lost more than just a game last week. They lost the heart of their defense when Terrell Suggs went down. Joe Flacco looked awful, and the run game didn’t look any better. I’ll chalk some of it up to a good showing by the Broncos defens. They stayed in it because of their own defense and that’s what they should have an easy time against Oakland this weekend. BALTIMORE WINS

Cowboys @ Eagles: Both of these NFC East does did a lot of good things late I. Their games last weekend, but a lot of bad early. I think the Cowboys are the better team, but there’s something abuts these NFC East contests where the team that on paper should win, usually doesn’t. I should also mention DeMarco Murray will want to show why he should’ve been kept over the now injured Dez Bryant. PHILADELPHIA WINS

Sunday Night Football

Seahawks @ Packers: It’s close, but above Pats/Bills, and Broncos/Chiefs, this is the game of the week. You’ve got the defending champs coming off a road loss to their division foes that saw them give up 34 points. Then you’ve got Aaron Rodgers who just doesn’t lose at home, coming off a nice road win that saw a magical reconnection with wideout James Jones. Oh and add the revenge Green Bay wants after losing in the NFC Champuonhip game last year. These two teams always play entertaining games and this should be no different. With no Kam Chancellor in the secondary again this weekend (should he continue his holdout), something is missing for the defending NFC champs. I don’t like it, but give me the Pack to drop the Hawks to a shocking 0-2. GREEN BAY WINS

Monday Night Football

Jets @ Colts: Last week was one of the worst showings by Andrew Luck in his young career. The Bills defense was everywhere. And while the Jets defense is very good, their secondary was still torched by Manziel, who is no Luck. Not to mention that the Jets banged up on defense. The offense for New York was impressive behind Chris Ivory, so the Colts will have to figure out how to shut him down. But I like Andrew Luck too much to think they open 0-2. INDIANAPOLIS WINS

The regular season comes down to this, one playoff spot in each conference remains up for grabs, with plenty of seeding to be set. Three divisions are still unclaimed, including the NFC South, the final spot left unclaimed and all three of those battles are winner-take-all on top of it. We couldn’t have asked for a better end to the regular season.

In Week 16, I went 10-6 to bring my season total to 155-84. Here’s my final regular season set of picks. Comment with your thoughts!

Sunday 1PM Games

Bills @ Patriots: A win doesn’t help either team, as the Pats have already clinched home-field throughout the AFC playoffs, while the Bills are out of the playoff picture. But as Tom Brady said in his press conference this week, with a bye in the 1st round, they need to make this game count so they stay fresh and ready. I don’t expect the starters to play the whole game, maybe just the 1st half, but I think New England gets the win, their 13th of the season. NEW ENGLAND WINS

Browns @ Ravens: Baltimore needs a win to keep themselves in the conversation, but if the Chargers win, that’s it. Cleveland is on their 3rd quarterback after Johnny Manziel’s injury and the ineffectiveness of Brian Hoyer. THey had a good run, but I don’t think the Browns finish with their first non-losing record since 2007, completing a 2nd half collapse. I’ll take the Ravens to at least give themselves a chance at the final spot in the AFC. BALTIMORE WINS

Bears @ Vikings: Jay Cutler is back under center and looking to finish a down year on a high note. Minnesota has had an okay season for a team that lost it;s starting QB and all-pro running back early. If the Vikings get the win, the Bears will finish all alone in the NFC North cellar. And that’s exactly what I think happens. MINNESOTA WINS

Cowboys @ Redskins: The Cowboys are back in the playoffs after 3-straight seasons of finishing at 8-8, and they have a shot at a first round bye. With a hand injury to DeMarco Murray, and Tony Romo’s back, they could use it. A lot has to go right, but they have home-field locked up at the very least by virtue of winning the NFC East. DALLAS WINS

Colts @ Titans: Andrew Luck is having the worst season of his young career, and yet his Colts are division champs once again. But the turnovers can’t continue, and if you’re Indy, you want to see a crisp game heading into the playoffs. Seeding is still a factor, but they have home field in the first round, so I don’t think a full game will be played by the starters. That being said, I still think the Colts get a much-needed win to make them feel better before the postseason kicks off. INDIANAPOLIS WINS

Jaguars @ Texans: Jacksonville has a lot of pieces, especially on defenses, to make the future look bright. Add to that another top 3 pick, and they could make some noise fairly soon. A loss would help things along, so while I don;t think they’ll go out and throw the season finale, I also don’t think they win. JJ Watt will look to finish the year strong and add to his MVP caliber campaign. HOUSTON WINS

Chargers @ Chiefs: When I looked at this match-up earlier in the week, I had the Chargers winning. Now that Alex Smith is out for the Chiefs with a lacerated spleen, I’m even more sure that San Diego will lock up the final AFC playoff spot.Philip Rivers and company have had an odd season, but they can wipe it all away with a win and playoff berth, and I think that’s exactly what I think they do. SAN DIEGO WINS

Jets @ Dolphins: New York has been a disappointment all season, while the Dolphins have been disappointing to close out the season. We know Joe Philbin will be back for 2015 in Miami, but we don’t know the true fate of Rex Ryan for the Jets. Ryan has had more success than Philbin as a head coach, but they coach in competely different markets so who knows. All I know is I like Ryan Tannehill better than both Geno Smith and Mike Vick combined, and I saw a better defense all season long for Miami than New York. So for that, I understand another year for Philbin. That is also why I think the Dolphins end the season with a win. MIAMI WINS

Saints @ Buccaneers: This game means nothing to New Orleans but looking to end the season with a little pride. In a bad NFC South, a playoff perennial squad led by Drew Brees couldn’t even make it to week 17 in contention for the playoffs. As for Tampa, it’s been a lost season from the jump, and here they sit with a chance at the number 1 pick, with only Tennessee in the way, entering action with identical 2-13 records. Give me the Saints to finish the season with a win. NEW ORLEANS WINS

Eagles @ Giants: After being in the lead in the NFC East for most of the season, week 17 finds the Eagles out of the playoff picture and just looking to be a 10 win team that doesn’t make it. The Giants have turned things around in the 2nd half of the season, and are a different team than when the two played the first time around. Give me the Giants to finish out the season at 7-9 with another good day from Odell Beckham Jr, the probable Offensive Rookie of the Year. NEW YORK WINS

Sunday 4:25PM Games

Panthers @ Falcons: The winner is playoff bound. The loser goes home. Neither team finishes above .500, but will host a tough 10+ win team in the wildcard round. Cam Newton’s health/ability is questionable after his car accident, while Matt Ryan’s offense is scary good. Neither team’s defense has been impressive this season, so I’m going to go with the home team in this one. ATLANTA WINS

Raiders @ Broncos: The Broncos don’t have to win to ensure a first round bye, but you know they want to go into the playoffs strong and not leave things up to chance. Peyton Manning is coming off one of his worst games ever in week 16, so you know he’s looking to bounce back. Oakland has all but knocked themselves out of the top draft spot with 3 wins, but they’re still going to be in prime position. Derek Carr has shown growth, so all is not lost in Raider Nation. That being said, this is a home game with a week off at stake, give me the Broncos to get the job done. DENVER WINS

Cardinals @ 49ers: San Francisco has been a strange team all season, and they’ll be missing the playoffs after a nice streak of success th past few years under Jim Harbaugh. With signs pointing to Harbaugh parting ways with the Niners sooner rather than later, I think the team plays hard for him one more time. I just don’t think it results in a win. The QB situation for Arizona is less-than ideal heading into the playoffs, but their defense can carry them for a while. Ryan Lindley gets the start over rookie Logan Thomas, with news that Drew Stanton could be back for the playoffs. They have a playoff spot no matter what, but they more than anyone else in the NFC, really needed that bye week, but their tailspin has coincided with the Seahawks resurgence. ARIZONA WINS

Lions @ Packers: Winner gets the NFC North crown and home-field in the first round. The loser gets a wildcard spot. A first round bye is also in play for the winner of this one, so it’s the biggest game of the weekend. Detroit has been carried all season by their defense, but their potent offense has started to pick it up of late. The Packers are nearly unbeatable at home, looking to go 8-0 at Lambeau, so you know Green Bay wants to avoid going on the road as long as possible in the playoffs as they can. Aaron Rodgers has more experience in high pressure games than Matt Stafford, and I think that’s the difference this week.GREEN BAY WINS

Rams @ Seahawks: The reigning champs started the season off slowly, but they are peaking at the right time, and a win guarantees a first round bye, and they have a shot at home-field throughout, and in 12-man territory that would be huge. St. Louis has had a respectable season, their defense is formidable and their wins have come against some of the league’s best. They will make the tough NFC West tougher next season with a stable QB. SEATTLE WINS

Sunday Night Football

Bengals @ Steelers: It’s the battle for the AFC North and home-field advantage in the 1st round. Both teams are already in the playoffs, and both could still, with a lot of help, get a bye. Cincinnati hasn’t been super impressive for most of the season, but in clinching a playoff spot last week, they sure were. Andy Dalton outplayed Peyton Manning, and the defense stepped up big time. Not to mention how great Jeremy Hill was out of the backfield. But Pittsburgh has been coming on strong of late, and their run game is even more dangerous with Le’veon Bell in the backfield. Ben Rothelisberger looks like his old self, and with this game in front of the black-and-yellow, I’m taking the Steelers to win the most competitive division in football. Though as I said last week when I picked against the Bengals, I wouldn’t be surprised if Cincy pulls the upset. I had them finally breaking their 1-and-done playoff streak this season prior to the start of the year, so a huge road in against their division foe wouldn’t shock me at all. PITTSBURGH WINS

Week 10. I cannot believe we are here already. The playoff picture is starting to form, putting importance on many of the games this week.

I went 7-6 a week ago to bring my season picks record to 82-51 (which puts me 72nd on my Yahoo picks page, so not too shabby!). Another 6 teams are on their bye this week: the Texans, Vikings, Patriots, Colts, Chargers and Redskins.

Thursday Night Football

Browns @ Bengals: This isn’t the easy Bengals win you probably thought it would be when the schedules were released before the season. Both teams enter action looking for their 6th wins. That being said, I think Cincy gets this one at home to maintain their lead in the AFC North. AJ Green is back, giving Andy Dalton a nice 1-2 punch with the emergence of Mohammad Sanu. CINCINNATI WINS

Sunday 1PM Games

Chiefs @ Bills: It’s a match-up of two teams on the outside looking in in their respective divisions. The winner could hold the edge for an AFC Wildcard, making this one of the biggest games of the week. I love Buffalo at home despite all the injuries at running back. Their defense has done a good job holding teams scoring down, especially at home. BUFFALO WINS

Dolphins @ Lions: Another game of two possible playoff teams taking place in Detroit. Miami is coming off a very dominant win over a once hot Chargers team, while the Lions had their bye after a win in London two weeks ago. Detroit’s defense has been up to the task of stopping any and all offenses so far, and I while I see this being a close game, I think the Lions find a way at home.DETROIT WINS

Cowboys @ Jaguars: Possibly no Tony Romo for Dallas hurts, but they’re facing one of the worst teams in the league. So who gets the win in London? I think the boys continue to ride DeMarco Murray, limiting the chances for Brandon Weedon to mess things up to badly in Romo’s place.DALLAS WINS

49ers @ Saints: Both teams need this one if they want to make the playoffs. New Orleans is back atop the division and have been playing better of late. The Niners have been inconsistent, particularly on offense. And for that reason, I think the 49ers can’t outscore New Orleans on the road. NEW ORLEANS WINS

Titans @ Ravens: Tennessee is just coasting through the season. Baltimore has been up and down, but there’s way more upside to this team despite losing their starting running back in Ray Rice early. Give me Joe Flacco to have a big game at home and keep the pressure on everyone in the North.BALTIMORE WINS

Steelers @ Jets: If the Steelers were playing almost anyone else this week, I would say their hot streak would come to an end. But the Jets defense is atrocious, and their offense would never be able to pick them up in a shoot out with Pitt. So let’s make it 9 straight losses for New York. PITTSBURGH WINS

Falcons @ Buccaneers: Nothing like a bottom half of the NFC South battle… Neither team is good, but Atlanta holds the advantage offensively, so I see them snapping their 6-game slide. ATLANTA WINS

4/4:25 PM Sunday Games

Broncos @ Raiders: Peyton Manning was embarrassed a week ago. And now they play the worst team in baseball? Yeah this one is an easy one to pick. DENVER WINS

Giants @ Seahawks: New York can’t do anything right these days. Eli Manning hasn’t thrown an interception since their win over the Redskins, and has only thrown 5 all season, and yet here they sit at 3-5. Now they head to Seattle to take on a 5-3 Seahawks squad that may not be clicking like it did last year, but has always been a tough play for the Giants. Do I think the Giants have a shot, yes. But not a good one. SEATTLE WINS

Rams @ Cardinals: Could this be an upset alert? Absolutely. St. Louis has shown they aren’t scared of anyone. But Arizona is getting healthy, Patrick Peterson is finally looking like the top flight cornerback he is and they’re home. Oh and that defense is just better than you. So I don’t think they’ll necessarily run away with this one, I also think Arizona gets another win on Sunday. ARIZONA WINS

Sunday Night Football

Bears @ Packers: Capping off the Sunday of action is an NFC North match-up between what I think is the 2nd best team in the conference in the Packers and one of the biggest disappointments in the league in the Bears. Aaron Rodgers is an MVP candidate once again, Jordy Nelson is back and the frozen tundra is a hard place to play. All of that added to Chicago’s struggles on and off the gridiron all add up to a Packers victory. GREEN BAY WINS

Monday Night Football

Panthers @ Eagles: Carolina really needs this one. And if they were ever going to get a win over Philly, this is the time to do so with injuries for the Eagles on defense and at the QB position. But Philly is home, and Mark Sanchez knows how to manage things when he has an actual offensive line. So I wouldn’t be surprised if the Panthers can stop their skid on the road, but I don’t think it will. PHILADELPHIA WINS

Another great week in the NFL is in the books. A tie, a bunch of blowouts and a bunch of shootouts.

My week 6 went 10-6, including a tie between Carolina and Cincinnati. Here are my week 7 picks, 15 games with just the Eagles and Buccaneers on their byes.

Thursday Night Football

Jets @ Patriots: It’s an AFC East match-up to kickoff week 7 action. Before the season I thought this game could be the first in determining the division. Instead it’s another chance for the Pats to continue to right the ship, and for the Jets to try to snap out of their funk. I’m going with the former, because New York is just a mess in every facet of the game except the run. NEW ENGLAND WINS

Sunday 1PM Games

Falcons @ Ravens: Atlanta continues to be one of those teams with a lot of talent being wasted. I thought they’d snap out of it at home last week against Chicago, but instead gave up 30 points again. And with a Ravens team that clicked on all cylinders to the tune of 5 1st half touchdown passes from Joe Flacco up next, all I have to say is yikes. BALTIMORE WINS

Titans @ Redskins: Talk about a game I probably wouldn’t accept money to watch. Tennessee barely scraped by the win-less Jaguars a week ago, while Washington is on a four-game slide. I think that skid ends for the Skins however, because they’re home and I’ve at least seen some good things from their offense against good teams. WASHINGTON WINS

Seahawks @ Rams: Seattle is looking to rebound off a rare home loss to the upstart Cowboys in week 6, while St. Louis is coming off their 3rd straight defeat. I don’t see the defending champs losing two straight and though this is a trap game, I think they get the road win on the strength of a bounce back performance by Russell Wilson. SEATTLE WINS

Browns @ Jaguars: I had the Browns beating Pittsburgh a week ago, but I didn’t think it would be in such dominating fashion. The run game was great thanks to a big game from Ben Tate, while Jordan Cameron anchored a big day in the air for Brian Hoyer. Not to mention the defense holding Ben Roethlisberger to 10 points. Oh and Jacksonville is bad. CLEVELAND WINS

Bengals @ Colts: This is probably the toughest game for me to pick o the week. Cincinnati has disappointed me, particularity on defense since coming out of their bye undefeated. They’ve surrendered 80 points in the last two games, a loss and a tie, after just 33 in their first 3 games. Now they face a high-powered Colts team, that happens to be on a 4-game win streak, on the road. So I am going to go out on a limb and take the Bengals on the road, because if they’re to take the next step, it’s games like this where they have to prove something. CINCINNATI WINS

Vikings @ Bills: Minnesota has had its moments this season, as has Buffalo. Neither team has had consistent offense, rather relying on their defenses to carry them. The Bills run game is their strength, and it hasn’t even been that great early. I think both CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson have big days at home to get their team above .500. BUFFALO WINS

Dolphins @ Bears: Talk about two inconsistent teams that need a win. At 2-3 and 3-3 respectively, Miami and Chicago are both still in the conversation in their divisions. Both teams are strong in the trenches, but the Bears have the edge in the air, and that’s where I think they win it. CHICAGO WINS

Saints @ Lions: New Orleans enters rested fresh off their bye week after a huge come-from-behind OT win in week 5. Detroit won in week 6 in large part because of their outstanding defense. Calvin Johnson is struggling, as is the run game, but it’s easier to take when your D holds the other team to a field-goal. It won’t be so easy to do so this week, and even though it’s a road game, I’m taking a leap because of a guy named Drew Brees. NEW ORLEANS WINS

Panthers @ Packers: This is a big game in that it could affect playoff seeding in the NFC for one or both teams. Carolina’s defense is not what we thought it would be. Green Bay is surging after a 1-2 start. I think it’ll be a close one throughout, with Aaron Rodgers coming up big late to help the cheese heads move to 3-0 at home. GREEN BAY WINS

Sunday 4/4:25PM Games

Chiefs @ Chargers: Kansas City isn’t fooling anyone this season. After starting last season with 9 straight wins, their offense just hasn’t been up to snuff this year. The run game continues to excell, but Alex Smith has the pass game at the bottom of the league. They’ve kept themselves in games, except for a 41-point game against New England, so there’s still hope. But with their red hot AFC West counterparts on the schedule, this is going to be a tough one. It hasn’t always been pretty, but the Chargers just find ways to win. Being a home game, I like the Chargers to continue to find ways to win, which will push KC far out for the division and put pressure on the Broncos. SAN DIEGO WINS

Cardinals @ Raiders: Arizona has its QB back, the defense is clicking and the NFC West is a toss up early. Oh and they get a team on the march for another number 1 pick and a possible date with 0-16. Oakland did give San Diego all it could handle a week ago, so I don’t think it’ll be easy, but I like the Cards on the road. ARIZONA WINS

Giants @ Cowboys: Yes, I know the Giants were manhandled a week ago, while Dallas overwhelmed the defending champs on the road. I also know that DeMarco Murray is a beast and New York isn’t great at stopping the run. But I also don’t think New York is as bad as they looked on Sunday Night. Not to mention, when these two teams get together, strange things tend to happen. Eli Manning has had a lot of success in Dallas, and I think he finds a way to get his guys back on track this week. NEW YORK WINS

Sunday Night Football

Niners @ Broncos: What a great match-up on Sunday Night between two of the final four teams from a season ago. San Francisco has looked better of late after a slow start at 1-2. But I still have concerns about their offense. I know their defense can keep them in most any game, but with Peyton Manning just 3 TD passes away from the all-time record of 509, I don’t know how the Broncos don’t get their 5th win of the season. DENVER WINS

Monday Night Football

Steelers @ Texans: Pittsburgh is a straight up mess right now. Sure they’re 3-3 but it’s been ugly, and having been 8-8 the past 2 years, being .500 is nothing special. Add to that the surprising start of the Browns, the Steelers find themselves in the cellar of the North. As for Houston, they’ve already surpassed their win total from last season and look a lot better on offense. So give me the home team to move above .500 and keep pressure on the division leading Colts. HOUSTON WINS

4 weeks down. Time flies when we’re having fun watching games doesn’t it?

So what do we know? Here is a breakdown by division of how all 32 teams look one month in.

AFC EAST

New England Patriots (2-2): So this team hasn’t been good at all, with Monday Night being the ugly icing on the early season cake. Sure they’ve won 2, but they weren’t impressive wins. Tom Brady and the offense have not looked good at all. The only receiver that has looked good has been Julian Edelman, and that ended Monday as well. Not to mention how terrible the defense looked on the road in Kansas City. They couldn’t defend the run or pass. Makes it kind of hard to win when you can’t do much in any phase of the game. They’re lucky to be tied for first.

Buffalo Bills (2-2): Kyle Orton is in at quarter, E.J. Manuel is out despite the .500 record. This team got off to a fast start, mostly on the strength of their run game and defense. And while neither of those phases has dropped off much in weeks 3 and 4, Manuel hasn’t helped, hence the change. That being said, I don’t think Orton makes this team any better. But hey, with how even these teams seem early on, maybe the run game and defense can keep them in the race for the long haul.

Miami Dolphins (2-2): Joe Philbin has been reluctant to name Ryan Tannehill the starting quarterback early in the week. And this week, Tannehill showed him why it shouldn’t even be a question. Sure they played the Raiders, but if you simply look at Tannehill’s decision making and throws, you saw the guy Miami has been waiting for; completing 23-of-31 passes for 278 yards and 2 touchdowns.

New York Jets (1-3): Could it be time for a quarterback change? I don’t think so, but it’s not long off. Geno Smith has had moments of greatest, but this team continues to shoot themselves in the foot. New York should really be no worse than 2-2. But between poorly called timeouts, 2nd year QB growing pains, no secondary and not using their running backs properly, they sit at the bottom of the East.

AFC NORTH

Cincinnati Bengals (3-0): Talk about a team that got the bye way too early. They’ve made the start of their season look easy. Andy Dalton is earning his new contract, even catching a TD pass in their week 3 victory. This is a team that has made the playoffs each of the last 3 seasons, but were knocked out in the first round every time. If they continue to play like this all season, and can stay relatively healthy, Cincy is poised to not only challenge for a first round bye, but make a deep playoff run.

Baltimore Ravens (3-1): A perennial playoff team, this week they put everything together to look like a playoff contender once again. What a game for veteran wide-receiver Steve Smith against his former Panthers team! Not to mention how well the defense kept down Cam Newton. And to be succeeding despite all the off-the-field drama revolving around Ray Rice, shows the strength of the guys in the locker room to put all outside issues out of their mind between the lines.

Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2): This team has been hard to figure out for a few years now, and the start to this season is no different. Blowing leads to bad teams left and right, the steel curtain looked more like a bead curtain as they allowed the win-less Bucs comeback in grand fashion. They have the running back and they have the quarterback to get back in this.

Cleveland Browns (1-2): They’ve had their bye, and get two of their injured stars back thanks to it. Jordan Cameron and Ben Tate will play Sunday, and that should help their struggling offense. The defense was the highlight to start the season, and Brian Hoyer has shown he can lead this team to victory. Improvement is what this team is looking for, not a playoff berth this season.

AFC SOUTH

Houston Texans (3-1): Remember when this team finished 2013-14 on a 14-game losing streak? Well talk about a turnaround! The defense was pretty good last season, and this year is no different. Other than laying an egg against the Giants in week 3, they’ve been stout, led by early MVP candidate JJ Watt. A former Defensive Player of the Year, Watt has scored on a pick 6, continues to sack at will, as well lined up at tight-end more than once. It also helps that Ryan Fitzpatrick has brought stability to the quarterback position.

Indianapolis Colts (2-2): The first two weeks were very different than the next two. But that isn’t something to be too happy about, as they’ve shown they can beat the bad teams, not the good teams. Last season Andrew Luck was able to lead this team to big wins over the Seahawks and Broncos. So we know he can lead this team, now we just need to see it this season. Their first test comes against the red-hot Ravens in week 5.

Tennessee Titans (1-3): Defense has been an issue, offense has been an issue. Only two teams have allowed more points than the Titans, while only three others have scored fewer. Not the recipe for success. Tight-end Delanie Walker, despite an injury, has been a bright spot. The good news, they’ve played just one home game, so there’s room for improvement.

Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4): They’re heading straight for another number 1 pick in the draft. It’s a young team that I think made a mistake not starting QB Blake Bortles out of the gate. Jacksonville had to know that they weren’t going to compete for a playoff spot, and needs to get their young pieces as many reps together as possible. At this rate, you’re looking for some sort of improvement as the season wears on.

AFC WEST

San Diego Chargers (3-1): They snuck into the playoffs a season ago thanks to a 2nd half surge. The way they’re playing so far suggests there will be no sneaking necessary. Only 3 teams have allowed fewer points, while QB Philip Rivers is 6th in passing yards, 1st in completion percentage and has thrown just 1 interception. The only negative was the loss of Danny Woodhead, leading to a running back by committee situation.

Denver Broncos (2-1): The 2013 runner-ups have had two weeks to think about their first loss of the season, an OT loss to the Seahawks in week 3. The time should have helped Wes Welker get back on track, after a pre-season injury and two game suspension limited him. The defense has been solid, but they need more out of the run game in order to be a balanced team. If Peyton Manning continues to be Peyton Manning, and stays healthy, a deep postseason run is in the cards again.

Kansas City Chiefs (2-2): Just when you thought this team might take a step back from last season, they completely dominate the Patriots on Monday Night Football. Jamaal Charles was impossible to stop. Alex Smith helped eat clock with short completion passes. And the defense was relentless. They’re in a tough division, but they can definitely make some noise if they play close to how they looked in week 4 on a consistent basis.

Oakland Raiders (0-4): Head coach Dennis Allen barely survived the flight back from London. Charles Woodson called out the team early on. The worst scoring team in the league, Maruice Jones-Drew has been a serious downgrade at running back from Rashad Jennings. Derek Carr has taken over at QB and is showing rookie growing pains. New Head Coach Tony Sparano thinks the team can turn things around, I just think he’s spouting lines you say when you get a new job.

NFC EAST

Philadelphia Eagles (3-1): Despite the run game not being what we thought it would be, this team finds itself amongst the NFL’s best through the first quarter of the season. Nick Foles has done a good job making last season not look like a fluke. The defense has been pretty good, and they were one of the 3 teams to start the season 3-0. But they have shown vulnerability, and with the Boys and Giants looking stronger than a year ago, a repeat as East champs isn’t a given.

Dallas Cowboys (3-1): Remember when we all thought this team was going to have a historically bad defense? Well, that hasn’t been the case. They aren’t the leagues best either, but the offense is starting fire on all cylinders after a rocky start. DeMarco Murray is getting back to being an elite back, leading the league by more than a 100 rushing yardsm while Tony Romo continues to look horrible one day, spectacular the next. They’re in good shape to at least give themselves a good shot at breaking a 3-year string of finishing the season at 808.

New York Giants (2-2): For as bad as this offense looked the first 6 quarters of the season, this team could be 3-1. Eli Manning has never been a high completion percentage guy, but the past two weeks he has been on point like few others. Much like his postseason stats, in wins, he has a 6-1 touchdown to interception ratio. Add to that a good defensive effort all year, a run game that’s coming on and a breakout from tight-end Larry Donnell, this team looks poised to prove some people wrong.

Washington Redskins (1-3): Their point differential doesn’t tell the whole story. Kirk Cousins has looked out-of-sorts at times, especially in week 4 against the Giants. DeSean Jackson hasn’t been the play-maker they thought they were getting. They put up a good fight against the Eagles, but the defense couldn’t make the stops needed. RGIII continues to be hurt, and if they can’t get production from the former Rookie of the Year, they’re not going far, no matter how adequate Cousins can be.

NFC NORTH

Detroit Lions (3-1): Boy is this team putting something together! They’ve had the talent for years, but now everyone is living up to it, particularly on defense. I mean they’ve already made the Packers offense look terrible. The offense has always been sharp, led by Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson. This could be the year they get to, and advance in the playoffs.

Green Bay Packers (2-2): I laughed when people said Olivia Munn was why Aaron Rodgers and offense have looked off early. If completing nearly 67% of your passes for 9 touchdowns to 1 interception is off, than I think he’ll be okay. They haven’t looked good on the road, but still have 7 home games to come, meaning many of them will be in the cold, adding to the home field advantage that is Lambeau Field.

Minnesota Vikings (2-2): Adrian Peterson and his off-the-field issues have left a gaping hole on offense. But Teddy Bridgewater got off to quite the start. The defense has been pretty good, and to be 2-2 without Peterson, in a balanced division, is pretty impressive. I don’t know how long it can last, but you’ve gotta be happy with how the on-the-field product has looked.

Chicago Bears (2-2): It’s not easy to go 2-0 on the road. It’s also not easy to go 0-2 at home. The up-and-down Bears have a fairly even points allowed to points scored ratio. Jay Cutler has been pretty good getting his team into the endzone, but as a whole the offense is in the middle of the pack. As is the defense, hence the 2-2 record putting them at the bottom of the division early.

NFC SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons (2-2): Their best game came in week 1 when they took down the Saints at home. They’ve been a different team on the road. Good teams win at home, great ones win everywhere. Matt Ryan has the weapons but the defense has been too inconsistent. A road win would boost this teams confidence, but heading to New York in Week 5 to take on an invigorated Giants team might be too much to overcome.

Carolina Panthers (2-2): If you asked me if the defense would be the problem early on, I’d think you were crazy. If anything, I’d have thought Cam Newton’s injury concerns would slow down Carolina. It has, but allowing nearly 20 more points than you’ve scored doesn’t help. This team got a taste of success last season, so look for them to look to that feeling to help propel them going forward.

New Orleans Saints (1-3): I did not see this start coming for Drew Brees and company. The defense has looked awful, the offense not much better. They’re first two losses were late game collapses, their 3rd an ugly blowout from the Cowboys on Sunday Night. If there’s anyone who can get his team turned around it’s Brees, but in a conference that has seen the NFC East get off to a better start overall than expected, coupled with a tough Western division, you’re only guaranteed one spot coming out of the South.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3): A change back to Mike Glennon under center, and a porous Steelers defense helped them avoid an 0-4 start. But if they want to be success going forward, the run game needs to get involved, as well as more consistency from their defense. Many thought they’d be good this season because of their defense, and there’s still time for them to be respectable thanks to it.

NFC WEST

Arizona Cardinals (3-0): Carlson Palmer goes down, and Drew Stanton picks up the slack. The defense has been the best in the league through 4 games, allowing just 11 points a game. They’re not the most impressive undefeated team ever, but it’s hard to win games in the National Football League, and they’ve managed to win all 3 this season. If they can find a way to split with the Seahawks and 49ers, they could steal a Wild Card spot, or even the division. To me, it all hinges on the quarterback play. We know the team can play defense.

Seattle Seahawks (2-1): Despite a loss to San Diego, this team looks like one ready to repeat. They’ve had their bye, so it will be interesting to see if conditioning comes into play late. You could be concerned about blowing a big lead late to the Broncos in week 3, or you can focus on the championship type drive Russell Wilson orchestrated in overtime. Marshawn Lynch is still a beast. Richard Sherman doesn’t get challenged. This team is good. Simple as that.

San Francisco 49ers: (2-2) Colin Kaepernick’s TD to interception ratio is nothing to write home about at 6 to 4. They’re playing close games, leaving no room for error. A loss in division puts them behind the 8 ball, but of course they have 5 more chances to get back on track. The Niners defense is in the top half in points allowed per game. If they want to get past the Cards and Hawks, they need to get more consistent on both sides of the football.

St. Louis Rams (1-2): Losing Sam Bradford before the season began put this team back. I thought they’d make improvements this season, and of course they still can. Their defense is pretty good, something I am not surprised about. Hard to place the offense, as they’ve only played three games, but I can say it’s not a competitive offense, and therefore not a competitive team. Another top pick in the draft awaits St. Louis.